Grace Nzaramba has been experiencing a rather unusual but worrying condition characterized by an unusual tendency of waking up on some nights wheezing due to a sudden shortness of breath and an itching sensation in her lungs.

"I sometimes experience an itching sensation in my lungs; at first it wasn’t scary but the fact that it was recurring made me worry. It gives me an urge to scratch it but I can’t because it’s deep in my lungs and this burdens me a lot because when it comes I fall short of breath and it becomes hard for me to get to sleep again,” she says.

Nzaramba notes that since she usually experiences this once or twice every month, it got her thinking it was connected to a woman’s changing hormones during the menstruation cycle.

Her assumptions weren’t erroneous because according to medical experts, menstruals sometimes spark off the condition.

Nzaramba’s condition, though not life threatening, can result into a serious health condition hence calls for immediate medical intervention.

People with itchy lungs often experience breathing difficulties that can be a minor irritation or a major problem that can even interrupt daily activities. 

Experts point out that this condition can be a symptom of serious medical conditions such as asthma. 

Dr Immaculate Kambutse, resident in internal medicine at King Faisal Hospital, says that when a person experiences such symptoms, it is always better to go for checkup to determine the possible cause.

Allergies and infection tend to cause shortness of breath and itchy lungs, she adds.

"Shortness of breath can be caused by many things, however, the best thing to do is for one to see a physician who would take a detailed history, looking for possible triggers or precipitating factors, and maybe request for some investigations which could help in finding out the cause, especially because it’s recurrent,” Dr Kambutse advises.

Dr Rachna Pande, a specialist in internal medicine in Ruhengeri Hospital, says that some of the causes of itchy lungs include very cold and dry air, adding that stress can as well precipitate and augment this condition. 

"One usually gets dry cough due to itchy lungs. They may feel some throat pain, tightness in chest and shortness of breath, among others, but the symptoms are determined by the underlying cause,” Dr Pande explains.

Other causes of itchy lungs include allergies from smoke and chemical fumes, infections that attack the respiratory system, strong emotions of anger, fear, sadness and anxiety plus the stress that tends to come with the menstrual cycle.

Dr Pande points out that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help in preventing the condition from escalating.

She says prevention consists of avoiding potential allergy causing substances, maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise. 

"Drinking an adequate quantity of water is also useful; rooms should be kept well-aerated and ventilated,” Pande says. 

She, however, advises that if symptoms are severe it is advisable to consult a doctor to find and treat the underlying cause.

For Dr Wilbur Bushara, a general practitioner, itchy lungs can come with tightening and pain in the chest area, finding trouble sleeping as a result of breathing difficulties, wheezing and painful coughing.

Treatment of the condition usually depends on the underlying cause or the nature of symptoms the patient displays.

Dr Bushara says allergy shots and medications can be applied to control itchiness and other symptoms present, especially when the condition is caused by an allergic reaction.

"Maintaining good moistness, keeping the body warm and maintaining a healthy weight can help one deal with the condition,” he adds.